Refrigerating system



Jan. 5, 1932. c. E. LIPMAN REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 7, 1927 Patented Jan. 5, 1932 oar CARL E. I. LIPMAN, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO LIPMAN PATENTS CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Application. filed October 7, 1927. Serial No. 224,574.

This invention relates to mechanical refrigerating apparatus of the household type and more particularly to the type employing a refrigerator cabinet and a removable unit containing the principal operating parts. Such a unit is capable of being completely assembled at the factory, is adapted to be inserted in the cabinet as a whole and should it fail to work for any reason or require servicing, it may be conveniently removed and replaced by another unit. In the meantime the faulty unit may be repaired either at the factory or central depot by experts.

In an apparatus of the above type it is highly desirable that the rem vable unit be so constructed that the low pressure side, more particularly the expansion element, be in communication with the storage chamber of the cabinet and at the same time be insulated from the heat of the high pressure side when the unit is in operative position' It is also highly desirable that these features whereby the expansion element is in communication with the storage chamber and is insulated from the high pressure side of the unit when the latter is in operative position be accomplished in as simple a manner as possible without involving any elaborate construction of the unit or cabinet.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a construction whereby the foregoing features of the removable unit are accomplished in as simple a manner as possible.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent as the same becomes better understood from an examination of the specification and claims in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a refrigerator cabinet embodying this invention,

2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at the line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken at the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. is a front elevational view of a cabinet showing a modified form of this invention.

Referring to the drawings more particularly reference numeral 5 designates a refrigerator cabinet provided with a storage chamber 6 and a refrigerating unit represented side a motor compressor 11, a condenser 12 to which the compressor is adapted to deliver compressed refrigerant, and a fan 13 and motor therefor for cooling the condenser and compressor. The member 8 also carries on its underside an expansion element 14 which is adapted to receive the refrigerant coming from the condenser and is in direct communication with the chamber 6 for cooling the same. The expansion element 14 is preferably of such shape as to accommodate ice trays (not shown), whereby it may make ice as well as cool the chamber 6.

The front of the cabinet 5 is provided with two vertically spaced openings 15 and 16 separated by a horizontal mullion 17 which extends just below the level of the lower edge of the expansion element 14 whereby the unit may be removed through the opening 15.

The opening 16 communicates with the storage chamber 6.

Suitable hinged doors 18 and 19 are provided for the respective openings 15 and 16.

The ledge 9- acts to seal the side and rear edges of the member 8. A rectangular strip of packing 21 is attached either to the inner surface of the door 18 or the front edge of the member 8 and the shoulder 20 for the door and together with the ledge 9 insulates the chamber above said member from the expansion element 14 when the unit is in operative position and said door is closed. Suitable packing 22 is provided around the edge of the 9 doors 18 and 19 so that when they are closed the interior of the cabinet will be insulated from the exterior thereof.

The' cabinet is provided with a pair of openings 23 and 24, the first at the rear and the other in the side to permit air to circulate above the member 8 when the fan 13 is operated. The motor compressor 11, the con.- denser 12 and the fan 13 may be in any desired relative position, but in this instance the compressor is situated near the rear edge of the member 8 opposite the opening 23 with the condenser disposed inwardly of the compressor and the fan between the condenser and compressor. A hood is provided over the parts 11, 12 and 13 and defines a path for the circulation of air past said parts and out of the opening 23. The hood 25 does not extend all the way to the front edge of the member 8 so that air coming in through the opening 24 may enter between the front edges of the hood 25 striking the condenser 12 first.

As shown in Fig. 4 the intake opening need not be in the side of the cabinet, but may be in the upper door as at 26.

therebetween, said support cooperating with the interior of the cabinet and said door whereby a sealed insulated compartment is provided around said evaporator element nature.

CARL E. L. LIPMAN.

It will be apparent that the aforedescribed cabinet and removable unit are of simple construction and at the same time provide for the effective insulation of the expansion element from the high pressure side of the unit when the same is inoperative position and the door 18 is closed.

I amaware that many details may be varied without departin from the principles of this invention and I 0 not, therefore, wish to be limited to the details shown and described.

I claim:

1. The combination with a refrigerator cabinet provided with a storage chamber, of a removable refrigerating unit includin a high pressure side, an expansion element an a support for the unit, said element being carried by the support whereby it is in communication with said chamber when the unit is in operative position, the cabinet being provided with a ventilating opening and a second opening through which the unit may be removed and a door for said latter opening, said support cooperating with the interior'of the cabinet and said door when the same is closed to form a seal whereby the high side and said element are insulated from each other when the unit is in operative position, said door being further provided with an opening adapted to register with the high side of said unit when the same is in operative position for permittin the circulation of air. 7

2. The combination with a refrigerator cabinet, of a removable refrigerator unit including a removable support, said support dividing the cabinet into upper and lower compartments, a high pressure side "carried by said support upon one side thereof and an expansion element carried by said supportupon the other side thereof, the cabinet being provided with an openin through which the unit may be removed, a oor for said opening, a sealin strip of substantially the same width as sai su porting member between said door and the e ge of said support to provide a seal 

